Dropping mechanism for corn-planters.



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DROPPING MECHANISM FOR CORN PLANTEBS.

(Application filed .nm. a, 1901.

(No Model.) v 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 682,!78. Patented Sept. l0, l90l.

- H. L.'DO0LEY.

DROPPING MECHANISM FOR CORN PLANTERSL (Applicstion filed Jan. 8, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Shoat 2.

(I0 Model.)

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No. 682,l78. Patented Sept. l0, I90I. H. L. DOOLEY.

DROPPING MECHANISM FOR CORN PLANTERS.

rApplication filed Jan. 8, 1901.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT GEETCE.

HARRY L. DOOLEY, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY D. MACDONA,OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

DROPPING MECHANISM FOR CORN-PLANTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 682,178, datedSeptember 10, 1901-.

Application filed January 8,1901- Serial No. 42,488. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY L. DOOLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rock Island, county of Rock Island, and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dropping Mechanismfor Corn-Planters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

The invention relates more especially to that class of corn-planterswhere the can, hopper, or receptacle for holding the corn has in itsbottom a revolving ring or plate provided with seed-cups or cells intowhich the grains are received and from which they are delivered one at atime into the spout or tube of the planter, whence they are dischargedin the same manner it it is desired to drill or are accumulated untilthe number required for a hill is obtained, when they are droppedaltogether.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming partof this specification, and will be best understood in connection withthe several views, as follows:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the hopper-bottom, showing the cover-plateand the housing for the cut-off and ejector. Fig. 2 is a similar viewwith the cover-plate removed to expose the seed-plate beneath. Fig. 3 isa perspective of the hopper-bottom detached. Fig. 4: is a verticalsection of the bottom and its appurtenances on the line 4 4: of Fig. 1.Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is aperspective view of the seed-plate detached.

Many arrangements have been devised for separating the grains from themass of corn contained in the hopper and delivering them one at a timeto the spout or tube, and in that class of devices where the seed-plateis provided with cups or cells adapted to receive the grains edgewiseonly it has heretofore been thought necessary to provide a narrow grooveor channel above the level of the cells of a width insufficient topermit the grains to settle naturally or to enter in any Way except inthe same edgewise position in which only they can be received by thecells. I have discovered, however, that this preliminary groove orchannel is unnecessary and that the grains can be gotten into the narrowcells edgewise without it, and incidentally I have been enabled tosimplify and cheapen the construction and even to enhance its efliciencywhile reducing the number of parts. I obtain this result by forming theouter edge of the hopper-bottom and the corresponding edge of the platethat covers and protects the moving parts into an upwardly-flaringenlarged channel communicating freely with the interior of the hopperand into which the corn settles naturally and indiscriminately with thegrains in haphazard positions. In connection with this widened andenlarged channel I provide in the bottom means for agitating the grainsthat are already lying therein and changing their positions after theyenter and before they leave the channel from crosswise, flatwise, orwhatever other positions they maybe in to ed gewise positions withrespect to the openings into the cells which communicate directly andimmediately with the channel. No means are necessary for causing thegrains to enter the channel in any particular position, and they mayenter freely in haphazard positions; but by the employment of thepeculiar form of the channel herein described and the simple andefticient means that are also described for agitating the corn thatgravitates naturally into it I am enabled to get the grains ultimatelyinto the same position with respect'to the cells.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a denotes the body of anyordinary sheetmetal hopper or other receptacle for holding the corn. Thebottom is indicated by b. It is constructed with a raised center 0- anda groove d, from the bottom of which latter I preferably lead the holesfor the bolts by means of which the can is fastened down on the frame ofthe machine. The teeth on the under side of the annular gear-ring 6travel in this groove, and on top of the gear-ring and connected theretoby the lugs s s is the seed-plate g, having notches h h 'to receive thelugs. The gear-ring is denoted by e. It has an extension or flange eprojecting horizontally inside the circle of teeth forming the gear andis supported by this flange resting on the annular ledge or shoulder eon the bottom b above and just inside the groove 6?.

The seed plate or ringgrests flat upon the upper surface of thegear-ring and at its outer edge is provided with a depending flange g,which overhangs the outer edge of the gear-ring and makes a snug fltwith the surface of afledge f, formed in the bottom on the outer side ofthe groove (1 and preferably flush with the ledge e on the inner side ofthe groove. The seed-plate is further provided with an upstanding flange41 around its periphery, which sets off slightly from the edge of thering, as best illustrated in Figs. 4c and 6. At appropriate intervals(depending upon the speed of the ring and the charactor of the feeddesired) this flange is notched orcut away, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6,and these notches constitute the cups or cells 2', into which thekernels or grains of corn are received. As will be noted in Fig. 2,where the seed-plate is shown in plan, these cells are elongated in thedirection of the circumference of the plate and are made quite narrowinatransverse direction, with preferablya slightwidening at the front end,(considered in respect of the movement of the ring,) but not in any partbeing of a width to permit the entrance flatwise of the grains or topermit the grains to turn therein after they have once entered. Noparticular novelty is claimed herein for the shape or size of thesecells, and in regard to this detail it need only be said that the cellsare intended to receive and hold only one kernel or grain at a time andshould therefore be of a length and width adapted to the dimensions ofthe.

average grains.

Seated upon the raised center 0 of the bot- .tom 1) and secured to thelatter in fixed position by means of the bolt Z is the coverplate L,having an imperforate top and being held down on the bottom and securedremovably in place by the wing-nut Z screwing upon the threaded end ofthe bolt Z. 1 At its outer edge this plate has a downwardly andoutwardly extending flange Z the lower edge of which extends into closeproximity to the upper surface of the seed-plate and comes flush withthe inner edges of the cells 2". The relations of this flange to theseed-plate and its flange c" are best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, fromwhich it will be seen that the outer edge of the flange l comes close tothe inner edge of the flange i and is practically coincident with theouter edge of the seed-plate proper.

At the point where the can or hopper communicates with the drill spoutor tube the bottom is provided just under the ledge f with an opening 0,through which each cell discharges its grain as the seed-plate movesaround. Over this opening the cover-platel is provided with a removablehousing at, and in this housing are mounted a cut-off 'm, the functionof which will be referred to again later on, and a grain-ejector p, thepoint of the latter working immediately above the discharge-opening 0.This out-off and-ejector are pivoted to the cover-plate under thehousing and areoperated by springs s s in a manner and for a purposewell understood, these details not forming any part of the presentinvention.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 4, it will be noted that thehopper-bottom b has an outwardly and upwardly inclined flange 1) aroundits outer edge, this flange beginning at the outer edge of and slightlyabove the level of the ledge or floorfand extending to a pointpreferably slightly above the level of the cover-plate Z. The body ofthe can or hopper is secured to this flange by means of ears or lugs, towhich it is riveted, so that its lower edge rests upon a shoulderrunning around the flange. On referring to Fig. 4 it will be noted thatthe flanges Z and b on the cover-plate and bottom, respectively, inclinein opposite directions and that the space between them forms a groove orchannel, the side walls of which are not vertical, but flare outwardly,so as to allow the corn in the hopper above to gravitate or settlenaturally into it with the kernels or grains arranged haphazard andindiscriminately. The bottom of this channel is formed by the flange t'of the seed-plate, and preferably this flange projects so far upwardmidway between the side walls as to extend above the bottom of thechannel, and it is desirable that the flanges converge to a point aboutmidway the height of the seed-plate flange and practically flush withthe upper surface of the plate. The inclination of the side walls to theupstanding flange t' between them is preferably about forty-fivedegrees; but obviously the invention is not limited to any particularinclination, all that is necessary being that one or both of the wallsshould diverge from about the level of the entrance to the seed-cups,so'as to form a channel that is widened or enlarged in crosssection, soas to receive the corn in bulk from the can and hold a number of grainswithout regard to their arrangement in cont-radistinction to being ofsuch width only as to receive the grains singly and on edge. Thisarrangement of the wall or walls of the channel, in connect-ion with thefact that the flange of the seed-plate forms the bottom of the channeland is provided with agitators which keep the grains lying in thechannel constantly changing their positions as the plate rotates, is theimportont thing in this part of the invention.

The construction being as above described it will be noted that theledge orfloor f forms the bottom of the cells or seed-cups and that inthe preferable arrangement herein shown the flange 1' extends up somelittle distance into the channel. The object of having the flangeproject upwardly in this way is to more efiectually agitate the corn inthe ohann el and to keep the grains moving as the seed plate turns, soas to gradually work those kernels that lie crosswise into a positionlengthwise of the channel, and to assist the flange i in the performanceof this result the forward or advancing edge of the uncut portions ofthe .flange are slightly enlarged, as shown MW, and behind thisenlargement the outer side of the flange is chamfered or beveled off, asindicated at 2' These details are, however, ancillary to the realimprovement, which, as above explained, is not limited to any actual orparticular extension of the seed-plate flange above the bottom of thechannel, provided it forms the bottom and is exposed to the grains aboveand is constructed and adapted to agitate the corn, as explained.

For the purpose of further assisting the notched flange i to arrange thegrains lengthwise in the channel the walls 0 and Z are provided,respectively, with little projections orlugs b l nearthe upper-edges ofthe flanges. These lugs project laterally from the walls into thechannel and are particularly useful in preventing the grains fromlodging crosswise the channel and by bridging the space between thewalls to prevent the free entrance of the corn from above. These lugsare located at appropriate intervals around the walls, and they arepreferably so located as not to come opposite each other.

As before noted, the object of extending the flange i above theseed-plate is to more effectually agitate the grains. Afurther object isto deepen the cells, and thereby insure the retention of the grainswhich enter them at points remote from the discharge-orifice while thering is traveling around. For unless the cells are deep enough tocompletely inclose the grains there is some liability of the overlyingcorn raking them out of the cells before they reach thedischarge-opening. This deepening of the cells, however, sometimespermits two or more of the smaller imperfect grains to crowd into thecells at a time, and for the purpose of getting ridof surplus grains Iprovide the ledgef with an inclined cam or riser 0 at a point just infront of the cut-off m. As the cells move around to the point ofdischarge the grains are pushed along the ledge by the notches in theflange of the seed-plate, and when they reach the riser they slide upover its top and are thereby lifted, so that the cut-off will act uponany surplus grains and push and scrape them off and away from the mouthof the cells, and in connection with this cut-off I preferably form agroove or depression a in the cover-plate into which the grains that arescraped off may pass instead of pilingup in front of the scraper.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a droppingmechanism for corn-planters, a hopper-bottom having an annular channelinto which the grains settle indiscriminately, a horizontal rotatingring or plate at the bottom of said channel having cells adapted toreceive the grains edgewise only, and means for agitating the grains inthe channel and arranging them so that they enter the cells edgewise.

2. In a dropping mechanism for corn-planters, a hopper-bottom having anannular channel into which the grains settle indiscriminately, ahorizontal rotating ring or plate at the bottom of said channel havingcells adapted to receive the grains edgewise only, and projections onsaid ring extending up into the channel between its side walls for thepurpose of agitating the grains and causing them to enter the cellsedgewise.

3. In a dropping mechanism for corn-planters, a hopper-bottom having anannular channel into which the grains settle .indiscriminately, arotating ring or plate at the bottom of said channel having cellsadapted to receive the grains edgewise only, projections on said ringextending up into the channel between its side walls, and lateralprojections on one or both of said side walls cooperating with theprojections on the ring to agitate the grains and cause them to enterthe cells edgewise.

4. In a dropping mechanism for corn-planters, a hopper-bottom having anannular upwardly-flaring channel, a horizontal rotating ring or plate atthe bottom of said channel having a flange projecting vertically intothe channel with a space between it and the side walls of the channel,and cells formed in said flange at intervals and adapted to receive thegrains edgewise only.

5. In adropping mechanism for corn-planters, a hopper-bottom having anannular upwardly-flaring channel, a rotating ring or plate having aflange projecting upwardly into the channel between its side walls,cells formed in said flange at intervals and adapted to receive thegrains edgewise only, and a ledge in the hopper-bottom forming a flooror bottom for said cells.

6. In a dropping mechanism for corn-planters, a hopper-bottom having anannular channel, a rotating ring or platehavlng an upstanding flange cutaway at intervals to form cells to receive the grains edgewise only, aledge in the bottom forming a floor or bottom for said cells, a cam orriser on the ledge to lift the grains as each cell approaches the pointof discharge, and a cut-off to clear away superfluous grains.

'7. In a dropping mechanism for corn-planters, a hopper-bottom having anupwardly and outwardly inclined edge flange, a rotating seed-plate, astationary cover-plate overlying said seed-plate and having an edgeflange inclined downwardly and outwardly, a vertical flange on theseed-plate projecting midway between the flanges and cut away atintervals to form cells adapted to receive the grains edgewise only, anda ledge in the bottom forming a floor for the cells, theoppositely-inclin ed flanges forming a channel with &

ers, a hopper-bottom having a groove in which works an annulargear-ring, a seed plate or ring connected with the gear-ring, a

cover-plate overlying said rings and having an edge flange inclinedoutwardly and downwardly, an outwardly-inclined edge flange in thehopper-bottom projecting upwardly outside the flange of the cover-plate,said oppositely-inclined edge flanges forming a channel with flaringside walls converging downwardly, and cells formed in said seed-plate inthe vertical plane of the nearest convergence of the edge flanges, saidcells being only wide enough to receive the grains edgewise.

9. In a dropping mechanism for corn-planters, a hopper-bottom having anannular upwardly-flaring channel, a rotating ring at the bottom of saidchannel, and a flange on said ring projecting upwardly into the channelbetween its side walls, said flange being cut away at intervals to formcells adapted to receive the grains edgewise only,and said flange alsohaving portions of its outer edge cham fered off between the cells.

10. In adroppin g mechanism for corn-planters, a hopper-bottom having anannular upwardly-flaring channel, a rotating ring at the bottom of saidchannel, and a flange on said ring projecting upwardly into the channeleans between its side walls, said flange being cut away at intervals toform cells adapted to receive the grains edgewise-only,and said flangebeing provided with enlargements at the rear ends of the cells.

11. In a seed measuring and delivering mechanism for corn planters, anannular channel in the hopper-bottom constructed to receive the grainsindiscriminately, and a horizontal rotating ring or plate at the bottomof said channel having cells adapted to receive the grains edgewiseonly, said plate being constructed to agitate the grains lying in thechannel above and arrange them so that they enter the cells edgewise.

12. In a hopper-bottom-for corn-planters, an annular channel constructedto permit the grains to settle indiscriminately therein, a rotating ringor plate at the bottom of said channel, having cells adapted to receivethe grains edgewise only, and projections on the plate extending intothe channel for agitating and changing the positions of the grains lyingtherein from an indiscriminate arrangement to an edgewise arrangementwith respect to the cells.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY L. DOOLEY.

Witnesses:

J. A. J OHNSON, W. J. SWEENEY.

